Also:

I share my home with three cats, and they each have distinct personality traits; however, like all cats, they love their sleep. Naps in the sun are the best, but they also enjoy a snug box or warm basket of laundry. During their waking times, their individuality really emerges.

Phoebe is busy, busy, busy. I remember when my son was a toddler and I’d have to follow him closely when we went to friends’ houses because his tiny hands would move from one thing to the next, having to touch everything and constantly looking for activity. He was curious. That’s Phoebe. She’s just like a toddler. She’s extraordinarily smart and gets bored easily. We really have to make sure she gets enough attention and interactive toys. So when she’s awake, she’s on the move.

Saffy is our senior lady, and when she’s awake, she’s usually sedentary. Or eating. Or using the facilities. Yep, that’s about it. She’s a little bit of a slug, but she gets to be — she’s put in her time.

Now Cosmo is quite another story. He’s not very busy and doesn’t lie around much when he’s not sleeping. You know what he does? He stands around and loiters, like he’s got absolutely nothing on his agenda — just hanging out, waiting for something to happen. He’ll stand in the same spot for an hour sometimes. Occasionally his eyelids droop, but mostly he stands and stares. His favorite loitering location is the doorway to the kitchen — it’s the perfect station for viewing the kitchen, dining room and living room activity. He also likes to stand right in the middle of any given room, seemingly contented.

My husband sometimes looks at him and playfully says, “Cosmo, go be a cat!” Nope. He’d rather just stand around loitering. He may move positions, but then he’s back to sitting around and staring. Sometimes he looks like he wants to be a part of our conversation. You know that person at a party who’s standing just outside a circle of conversation, hoping for an invitation to the fun? When I get that feeling from him, I do include him into the chatting. I ask him what he thinks about the topic at hand. He gazes back blankly, but I hope he somehow feels included.

Sometimes it’s unnerving. I’ll be working or resting on the sofa, look over and see his laser gaze aimed at me. I always wonder how long he’s been there. He obviously has no trouble with stamina — he could have been staring at me for an hour or more. Who knows? He stares at me while I’m using the bathroom, showering and getting dressed. He rarely meows, so the silent focus is kind of weird sometimes.

I think it’s especially funny when I come home from an outing — Phoebe greets me at the door, Saffy can’t be bothered to emerge from her basket, and Cosmo? Well, he’s standing in the middle of the living room floor, waiting for … what?

About the Author: Angie Bailey is an eternal optimist with an adoration of all things silly. Loves pre-adolescent boy humor, puns, making up parody songs, thinking about cats doing people things and The Smiths. Writes Catladyland, a cat humor blog, Texts from Mittens (birthed right here on Catster) and authored whiskerslist: the kitty classifieds, a silly book about cats wheeling and dealing online. Partner in a production company and writes and acts in comedy web series that features sketches and mockumentaries. Mother to two humans and three cats, all of which want her to make them food.